Taping instrument



July 12, 1938- D. l.. GORBATENKO 2,123,415

TAPING INSTRUMENT Filed July 28, 1937 /1//5 ATTOR N EY Patented July l2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTorI-lca 'rArlNG INSTRUMENT s M Francisca Calif.

Application July 28; 1937, SerlabNo. 156,249

3 Claims.

My invention relates to an instrument for applying tape, such as the reinforcing tape used on skins in the making of fur coats; and the broad object of my invention is to provide a device for applying the tape quickly and without harm to the skins.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for pressing the tape rmly against the irregular and seamed surface of the skins.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure` 1 is a side elevational view of an instrument embodying the improvements of my invention; and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the Same. l v

Figure 3 isa vertical sectional view of the pre-J ferred form of pressure roller; and

Figure 4 is a similar view showing a modified roller construction.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the manner in which the resilient pressure roller deforms itself to conform with a raised seam and press the tape tightly about the seam.

In the making of fur coats the practice is to apply reinforcing tape along the inside edges of portions of the coat to be sewn together; thus, for example, along the edges where a sleeve is stitched to the body portion of a coat. The pur- Dose of this tape is'to reinforce the fur skins so that the stitches will not pull out. The tape used is a rubberized tape which securely bonds to the skins under heat and pressure. In the past, the practice has been to apply this tape entirely by hand, using an ordinary electric iron to apply the heat and pressure. This is a tedious job and requires great skill, because the skins are easily burned by heat. Some animal skins are very thin, and even a slight amount of excess heat burns them or so weakens the skin structure as to render them useless.

Another diniculty is that fur coats are made up of a large number of small skins, sewn together. The seams stand up on the inside of the material, and the tape has to be conformed to them. The problem of pressing the tape over and about the seams by means of an ordinary iron is a very real one, and even experienced operators often fail to get the tape firmly in place. stili another difficulty 1n working with an iron is that the heat of the iron on the surface of the skins tends to shrink them, and change the shape of a carefully cut and fitted piece. This often resultslin poorly fitted pieces, and many'times makes the article absolutely unusable for the purpose it was fitted for.

In view of these problems'and diiiiculties it is .the broad object of my invention to provide a a handle for guiding the roller vand for pressing the tape against a surface, whereby the'resilient roller deforms itself into conformity with irregularities in the surface to press the tape firmly against the surface. Means mounted on the handle are preferablyy provided for holding a supply roll of tape, and means are also provided for heating the tape. The latter means is preferably electrical, and a thermostat is preferably prow'ded for controlling the temperature.

In greater detail, and referring to the drawings, the taping instrument of my invention comprises a. recessed frame 2, preferably of metal, mounted on the lower end of a hollow handle 3 of any suitable material, such as wood. The recess of frame 2 is covered by 'a side plate 4 :fastened by suitable screws 5. Frame 2 also inc'ludes a mounting or case 6 for holding a supply roll I of tape, the latter preferably being a standard roll of rubberized tape, such as used for reinforcing the edges of animal skins used in making fur coats. Case 6 is cup shaped and may be made as a separate piece fastened to the frame by a screw 8, or it may be cast as an integral part of the frame.

The hollow handle 3 is tted to the frame to provide anextension of the latter, and is held securely in place by a screw 9 passing through the wall of case 6. If the handle is of wood a tapped metal plug I0 is preferably set in the handle to receive the screw. Case 6 is also provided with an internal stud II forming a journal for the wood core I2 of the tape roll. A cover I3 is provided for the case, and comprises a plate set flush with its recessed outer edge and provided with locking tongues I4 engaging grooves I6 in the case wall.

The tape I1 peeled from supply roll 'l passes through an opening I8 in the case wall and adjasleeve 22 journaled on a pin 23 extending transversely of the frame. The purpose of this roller is to apply pressure to the tape, and its being resilient plays an important part in the proper functioning of. the instrument; in fact, a. roller of hard material, such as metal, is wholly unsuitable.

The reason here is that a piece of fur material is made up of many small sections 24 of skin, sewn together along seams 26, as shown in Figure 5. These seams stand up on the inside of the material, and the tape l1 has to be pressed firmly over the seam to make a secure adhesive contact. In other words, the roller must be capable of deforming itself to conform withthe seam when the roller passes over it. A roller of. resilient material laccomplishes this very effectively, as illustrated in Figure 5. and the tape is pressed rmly against the sides'as well as the top of the seam.

I prefer to use a roller having a core portion 2l heating the tape. For this purpose a heating unit is employed comprising an insulating tube 32 of suitable material, such as porcelain, held between studs 33 formed in the frame recess. The inside of the heating unit is lined with a metal tube 34, connected at the base of the unit with a metal shoe 36 presenting a heating face over which the tape passes. An electr-ical heating element 31 is positioned in the tubular unit, and is connected at one end to the inside tube 34 and at the other end to a switch 38 suitably arranged on handle 3. v

A thermostat is also preferably .provided for controlling the temperature of the heating unit, and comprises a bi-metallic strip 39 fastened at one end to the inside tube 34 and engaging a contact screw 4I at its free outer end. The latter also provides an adjusting screw for the thermostat, and is threaded through a metal sleeve 42 pressed in the 'porcelain tube 32. This sleeve also provides a terminal for one of the conductors of a exible cord 43, the other conductor being connected to switch 38. Cord' 43 conveniently leads into the instrument through the end of the hollow handle, and is held by a spring holder 44.

^ In order to tension the tape across the face y of the heating unit, to insure contact between the tape and the heating surface, a leaf spring 431s provided on the inside of case 6 to bear against the tape. 'Ihis spring may conveniently be fastened by screw 8. As a result, the tape is pulled across the heating face under tension, and proper heating of the tape is insured. The amount of heating necessary is not great, just enough to thoroughly warm the tape, and the heating element may therefore be a small one. I have used a 17 watt element successfully for this purpose.

I claim: l

l. An instrument for applying tape to an irregular surface, comprising a resilient roller for engaging the tape, a handle for guiding the roller and for pressing the tape against the surface, whereby the resilient roller deforms itself into conformity with irregularities in said surface to press the tape firmly against the surface, means mounted on the handle for holding a supply roll of tape, and means mounted on the handle for 'heating the tape.

2. A taping instrument comprising a frame. means on the 'frame for holding a supply roll of tape, a roller on the frame for engaging the tape to press the latter against a surface to be taped, and arheating unit on the frame and having a face interposed between the supply roll and pressure roller and over which the tape may pass.

3. A taping instrument comprising a frame, means on the frame for holding a supply roll of tape, a roller on the frame for engaging the tape to press the latter against a surface to be taped, a. heating unit on the frame and having a face interposed between the supply roll and pressure roller and over which the tape may pass, and means for tensioning the tape over the face ci the heating unit.

DIMITRI L. GORBATENKO. 

